Scouring machine



May 29, 1934. R. c. SIMMONS SCOURING MACHINE Filed Aug. 14, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l Patented May 29, 1934 -UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SCOURING MACHINE Application August 14,

29 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for scouring, buffing or polishing blanks, such as heels or parts of heels, for boots and shoes. In one aspect the invention consists in a machine organized for automatically positioning and presenting loose or unattached blanks to an abrasive member whereby the blanks may be treated without requiring skilled handling on the part of the operator.

An important field of use for such a machine is in securing the breast edge of the leather base sections used in association with rubber heels and for convenience the invention will be described in this connection, although it will be understood that it is not limited in its application to this or to any particular blank or to securing operations as distinguished from other abrading operations.

My invention is concerned with the problem of handling rapidly and automatically blanks for heels which may vary in size, shape, condition of flatness, and other respects encountered in manufacturing under commercial conditions. An object of the invention is to provide an automatic machine whereby such blanks for heels may be presented rapidly without requiring particular skill on the partof the operator, located accurately and gauged as to position regardless of variations in the individual blanks, and presented automatically and accurately in scouring position so that a surface of uniform and accurate character may be imparted to each blank.

An endless abrasive band or belt may be employed to good advantage for scouring blanks for heels, and in a more specific aspect my invention consists in a scouring machine of this type organized to present blanks automatically in operative relation to an abrasive scouring band. In this connection, an important feature of the invention consists in the provision of'a stationary gauge at one side of the belt, and feeding mechanism arranged to clamp a blank in the position determined by said gauge and then to move the blank transversely across the face of the belt. Preferably and as herein shown, the blanks to be scoured may be presented direct- 1y by the operator of the machine in position upon the face of the guide member and after they have had time freely to settle and position themselves upon the face thereof, they are automatically engaged and advanced to the abrasive band by a traveling feeding member which engages each blank in the position determined by the gauge member and transfers it to the abrasive band while it is..maintained accurately in 1929, Serial No. 385,750

such position. In the illustrated machine aform is provided for supporting the abrasive belt in a desired shape, and the gauge member has a blank-locating face which is substantially a continuation of the form.

In scouring blanks under commercial conditions, it often happens that different angles of bevel are desired in the scoured surface of the blank, as, for example, to correspond to differthese conditions in view, I have provided a machine having capacity for convenient adjustment of the angle of presentation of the blanks to the abrasive member. As herein shown, this is effected by positioning each blank upon a supporting plate mounted in the feeding mechanism to occupy different angular positions and connected to a controlling device having a relatively stationary adjusting mechanism by which the plate may be set in accordance with the requirements of the work, so that as each blank-supporting plate approaches the abrasive member it will assume automatically the angular position required for the desired bevel in the secured surface.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, selected for purposes of illustrationand shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view of the machine in front elevation, with certain parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine, with certain parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing one of the blank carriers with a blank presented obliquely to the abrasive belt.

As already explained, the machine is herein illustrated as employed for scouring the curved breast edge of leather base sections intended for use next to the outsole and beneath a rubber heel or rubber heel section. The blank '70 is presented to the machine breast edge down and resting upon the curved surface of a stationary gauge member 22 and between the plates of an endless conveyor feeding mechanism. It is advanced on edge along the surface of the gauge member 22 toward the right, as indicated in Fig. 2, clamped by the elements of the feeding mechanism, and carried slowly across the effective surface of an abrasive belt 18, whereby the scouringoperation is effected, and finally automatically released and dropped. out of the machine.

ent breast angles in various styles of heels. With outer face thereof.

The machine includes a table 10 supported at a convenient height and having a bed plate 12 secured to its upper surface. Secured to the upper surface of the table is a form 20 having an upper curved band-supporting and shaping face about which is driven at high speed the endless abrasive band 18. The form 20 has a depressed portion adjacent to its left-hand edge (Fig. 1) the purpose of which will be explained in a later paragraph. Except, however, for this depressed portion, the working surface of the form 20 may be regarded as being composed of a system of straight elements all parallel to the line 100 on Fig. 1, and a system of curved elements all parallel to the line 101 on Fig. 3. The bed plate 12 has bearings for a vertical shaft 32, by which power is transmitted to the feeding mechanism of the machine.

The driving units of the machine are mounted beneath the table 10 and comprise a motor 14 having a shaft 15 extending through both heads. Upon the right-hand end of the shaft is mounted a driving pulley 16 for the abrasive band 18. Upon the left-hand end of the shaft 18 is mounted a pinion 24 meshing with a large gear 25 mounted upon an intermediate shaft 26 (Fig. 3). The shaft 26 carries also a small gear 27 which meshes with a second large gear 28 fast to a worm shaft 29 journaled in independent bearings located to the rear of the motor 14. The worm shaft 29 carries a worm 3i) meshing with a worm wheel 31 fast to the lower end of the vertical shaft 32. It will be apparent that the direct connected pulley 16 is driven by the motor at full motor speed, whereas the gearing interposed between it and the vertical shaft 32 results in a substantial reduction in the speed of the latter shaft. The

rotation of theshaft 32 drives the feeding mechanism presently to be described and this may be varied and adapted to the requirements of the work in hand by providing intermediate gears of appropriate ratio. An idle pulley 1'7 acting as a belt tightener upon the abrasive band 18 is mounted upon a bracket 19 adjustably secured to the under side of the table 10.

A sprocket wheel 33 (Fig. 2) is pinned to the upper end ofthe vertical shaft 32 and acts to drive a sprocket chain 36 which extends to a second sprocket wheel 35, fast to a vertical shaft 34 journaled in bearings in the bed plate at the other end of the machine. The direction of motion of the sprocket wheel 33 is such as to carry the forward reach of the sprocket chain 36 toward the right, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

To every alternate link of the sprocket chain 36 is secured a blank carrier which is automatic in its clamping and unclamping action and is also positioned automatically to present the blank at the proper angle to the abrasive band 18. Each carrier includes a vertical block or bar 40 secured to a link of the sprocket chain by clips or angle pieces 41, extending upwardly and downwardly from opposite sides of the link, as shown in Fig. 3. Secured to the lower end of each bar 40 is a block 42 arranged to travel in a horizontal guideway formed partly in the bed plate 12 and partly by a gib 43 secured to the The blocks 42 positively and accurately control the movement of the links of the sprocket chain and the parts carried thereby .between the two sprocket wheels, a function which is particularly important during the clamping of the successive blanks and their presentation to the abrasive band. At its upper end each bar 40 carries an inwardly-projecting integral sleeve or barrel 44 which constitutes bearings for a stem 45 (Fig. 2) formed integral with a plate 46 disposed substantially vertically and constituting one of the clamping members. The stem 45 is retained in the sleeve 44 by a nut 39 threaded upon its inner end, which leaves the stern and the plate 46 free to swivel about ahorizontal axis extending transversely of the chain. The angular position of the plate 46 about the axis of its stem is controlled by an arm 47 on the plate which carries a roller 48 adapted to run in a horizontal guideway 50. guideway 50 is carried by a stationary angular casting '74 (Fig. 3) secured to a vertical plate '72 projecting longitudinally of the center of the machine from the bed plate 12.

The guideway 50 is adjustable vertically by means of two vertical adjusting screws 52 which are each threaded into a T-shaped rib forming a part of the guideway. It will be apparent, particularly from Fig. 4, that as the guideway is adjusted upwardly from its initial position each plate 46 will be. swung in a clockwise direction so that it will travel obliquely and maintain the blank '70 in such position that the scoured surface will be formed at a bevel of the desired angle with respect to the surface of the blank. In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the guideway is shown in a location corresponding to a vertical position of the plate 45 and under such conditions the scoured edge will be horizontally disposed as to its width.

The blocks 42 secured to the lower side of the sprocket chain 36 constitute guides for the lower portion of the blank carrier. In order similarly to guide the upper portion of the carrier in its operative movement, each sleeve or barrel 44 is provided with a rectangular projection 49 extending upwardly and arranged to travel through a horizontal guideway formed in the angle casting 74, as best shown in Fig. 3. This guideway extends across the front side of the machine only, there being no necessity for additionally supporting the carrier in its idle movement across the back of the machine.

Each plate 46 is provided with bearings for a vertical pin 55 upon which is journaled the clamping member which cooperates with the plate. This comprises a second plate 54 having formed upon its outer surface an elongated cylindrical boss 56, in which is mounted a spring-pressed plunger 57 bearing at its inner end against a portion of the bar 40 and acting, when permitted to do so, to swing the clamping plate 54 toward the plate 46. At its outer end the clamping plate 54 is provided with an enlarged slotted rib 58, in which is mounted a rocker member 60 carrying a pair of spurs 61. The rocker member is pivotally mounted upon a threaded stud 62 projecting between the flanges of the rib 58 and leaving the rocker member free to tilt and accommodate itself to blanks of uneven or varying thickness interposed between the spurs 61 and the plate 46. It will be apparent that the clamping plate 54 and the parts carried thereby are bodily movable and adjustable with the plate 46 in its swivel .movement about the axis of the stem 45. It will While the clamping plate 54 is continuously The urged toward the plate 46' by the action of the spring plunger 57, its position is controlled by an arm 64 (Fig. 2) integral therewith and carrying a roller 66 arranged to run upon the edge of a plate cam 68.

The plate cam 68 is secured by a screw 69 to the angle casting 74 above referred to and may be replaced by cam plates of different contour in accordance with the requirements of the work in hand. As herein shown, the cam plate 68 is provided with a depression in its contour in its forward edge at such position as to allow the clamping plate 56 to swing toward its cooperating plate 46 just before the latter comes opposite to the abrasive band l S. As the carrier plate 46 passes across and above the abrasive band 18 and reaches a point opposite its right -hand edge, the cam plate 68 acts to swing the clamping plate 56 outwardly so that the blank '70 is released and is free to drop out of the machine.

The form 20 for shaping and supporting the abrasive band 18, as already stated, is secured to the table 10 in such position that the carrier members travel in a path adjacent to and above its surface. The gauge member 22 is located adjacent to the form 20 for the purpose of preliminarily positioning the blanks to be presented in operative position. The gauge member 22 has a face similar in curvature to that of the form 20 and extending in substantial alignment therewith for a considerable distance beneath the blank carriers. The blanks are presented by the operator breast edge down between successive pairs of clamping plates 46 and 54, so that they rest upon the gauging surface of the member 22. The movement of the carriers with the sprocket chain 36 advances the blanks toward the. right and at the same time leaves them free to settle themselves and conform to the gauging surface. This surface is so disposed with respect'to the surface of the abrasive band 18 as to present a slight drop between the two and insure that the blank will be carried over the leading edge of the band without touching it and thus avoid any danger of the edge of the blank catching upon and injur'mg the edge of the band. To this end, the left edge of the form 20,. as shown in Fig. 1, is chamfered or reduced to a point below the adjacent surface of the gauge member 22 and the leading or left edge of the band 13 runs in the valley thus formed and is, therefore, below the path of the advancing blanks. Inasmuch as the blank is engaged by the spurs 61 in its gauged position, as determined by the effective face of the gauge member 22, it is not permitted to drop at this point but is carried without displacement across the operative face of the abrasive band.

The surface of the form 20 is inclined upwardly from a point adjacent to the gauge member to its right-hand edge. The face of the band 18 is, therefore, positioned thereby so that it intersects the path of the blanks at an acuteangle and the extent to which it rises above this pathdetermines the amount of material removed from the blanks in the scouring operation. This arrangement serves progressively to increase the depth of the abrading action, thus distributing the-wear across the face of the band 18.

A scouring machine having means for feeding blanks and for positioning an abrasive band so that the path of the blanks and the effective face of the band intersect is believed to be broadly new and from the practical standpoint it is of secondary importance only how the intersecting relation is brought about.

The form 20, which supports the abrasive band 18- and determines the characteristic shape of its operative face, is removable and may be replaced by other forms having different contours corresponding to the shape of the scoured face which may be desired to produce in the blank. If, for example, a straight breast edge is desired, a form having a flat upper face may be employed. In replacing the form 20, preferably the gauge member 22 will also be replaced for another of similar contour.

The operation of the machine will be understood from the foregoing description but may be summarized as follows. The motor 14 is set in operation, driving the abrasive band 18 at high speed over the form 20 and uniformly driving the sprocket chain 36 of the feeding mechanism at a reduced speed, so that the clamping members thereof are carried from left to right, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. The operator takes the blanks from a convenient source of supply and presents them in position upon the gauge member 22, one in each compartment formed by the clamping members l6 and 54. If the blanks have dissimilar surfaces; they may be sorted by the operator so that all of them will be turned in the proper direction. In the construction herein shown, the gauge member 22 is of sufiicient length to support three blanks at a time and the operator is thereby enabled to maintain a reserve supply in the feeding mechanism ready for delivery to the abrasive band.

The blanks '20 resting upon the surface of the gauge member 22 are advanced toward the right by the engagement of the plates 46 and during this movement are free to settle themselves and conform fairly to the supporting surface beneath them. The angular position of each plate 46 and its associated member is determined when the roller 4'8 of each carrier enters the guideway 61 of the rocker member 60 in the surface therek of and firmly clamping the blank in position upon the plate 46. It will be noted that as the spurs project substantially beyond the face of the clamping plate 54, the carrier is adapted to handle randed blanks or those having a rim ofv greater thickness than the body of the blank. The clamping action of the spurs is effective to fix the blank upon the plate 46 in the position which it has already found for itself by moving across the gauge member 22. the chain 36 carries the clamped blank '70 across the drop adjacent to the rear end of the gauge member 22 and across the convexly curved face of the abrasive band 18, thus scouring the breast surface of the blank and producing in it a concave surface complementary to the contour of the form. As each carrier passes beyond the abrasive band, the roller 66 rides up upon a projecting part ofv the cam plate 68, so that the clamping member 5a is swung outwardly and the scoured blank released and permitted to drop out of the machine. The empty carrier is then carried across the rear side of the machine and again moved into blank-receiving position in continuous cycle fashion.

The continued movement of Just before the blank It is evident that in the illustrated machine the abrasive belt 18, in passing over the form 20, travels in a convexly curved path, and that each point of the belt 18 travels in a plane curve. The plane which includes the path of any one point in the belt may be regarded as the plane of curvature of the path of travel, since every other point in the belt travels in that plane or in a parallel plane.

While I have referred specifically to a heel base section in describing the operation of the machine herein disclosed, in the accompanying claims the term blank is used as including within its scope a whole heel or lift or any section of the heel, and the term scouring is used in a broad sense to include any abrading operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine for scouring blanks for heels, comprising an abrasive belt guided for movement in a predetermined path, a stationary gauge at one side of said belt for supporting a blank in a predetermined position of presentation to said belt, and feeding mechanism including means for clamping a blank so positioned by said gauge and moving the blank from said gauge transversely across the face of said abrasive belt.

2. A machine for scouring blanks for heels, comprising an abrasive belt movable in a pre determined path, means for advancing blanks successively to said belt, and a stationary member having a blank guiding surface extending trans versely to the direction of travel of the belt and corresponding in contour to the path of the belt for positioning the blanks in relation to said abrasive belt, said advancing means being constructed and arranged to maintain the blanks in a position determined by said stationary member.

3. A machine for scouring blanks for heels, comprising an abrasive belt, a form having a belt supporting and shaping face, means for advancing blanks successively into operative relation to said belt, and a gauge member having a blank locating face which is substantially a continuation of the face of said form, said advancing means being constructed and. arranged to maintain the blanks in a position determined by said gauge member for presentation to said abrasive belt.

4. A machine for scouring blanks for heels, comprising an abrasive belt guided for movement in a predetermined path, a member having a blank guiding surface leading to said 'belt, and feeding mechanism including means for aovancing a blank along said surface while supported thereby and means for thereafter clamping the blank in its position determined by said surface.

5. A machine for scouring blanks for heels, comprising an abrading tool guided for movement in a predetermined path, a gauging surface leading toward said tool, feeding mechanism having partitions arranged to support a plurality of blanks resting freely upon said surface, whereby they may be positioned, and means for clamping against each partition a blank positioned by said gauging surface, said feeding means being con structed and arranged to advance the blanks so clamped one by one'to said abrading tool.

6. A machine for scouring blanks for heels, comprising an abrasive member, a gauging surface adjacent thereto for supporting a blank presented on edge, a plate movable across said surface for advancing a blank by contact with one of the side faces of the blank, and means comprising a stationary element acting at a predetermined point in the travel of the blank for clamping it to the plate and carrying it to said abrasive member.

7. A machine for scouring blanks for heels, comprising an abrasive member, and automatic blank-feeding mechanism associated therewith including a plate movable in a predetermined path adjacent to the abrasive member, means including a relatively stationary element for controlling the angular position of said plate, means for adjusting the position of said relatively stationary element to vary the angular position of said plate, and means for clamping a blank in position upon the plate for presentation to said abrasive member.

8. A machine for scouring blanks for heels, comprising an abrasive member, and automatic blank-feeding mechanism associated therewith including an endless chain driven in a path adjacent to said member, blank supporting plates carried by certain links of said chain, a pivotal connection between each plate and the link upon which the plate is mounted, the axis of each pivotal connection extending transversely of the chain, and means for maintaining said plates in positions of different angular adjustment about said pivotal connections.

9. A machine for scouring blanks for heels, comprising an abrasive member, and automatic blank-feeding mechanism associated therewith including a continuously moving chain having transversely extending clamping members car ried by certain of its links, a stationary gauge for supporting blanks between said members, and a cam constructed and arranged to move the members successively into clamping engagement with the blanks on said gauge at a predetermined point in the travel of the chain.

10. A machine for scouring blanks for heels,

comprising an abrasive member, and automatic blank-feeding mechanism associated therewith including an endless chain movable in a path approaching said abrasive member, blank supporting plates mounted to swivel upon certain links of the chain, an adjustable guideway extending parallel to a portion of the chain, and means carried by said plates and engageable with said guideway for controlling the angular position of the plates as determined by the guideway.

11. A machine for scouring blanks for heels, comprising an abrasive member, automatic blank feeding mechanism associated therewith including a clamping member for engaging one face of the blank over an extended area, and a cooperating clamping member mounted to rock to accommodate itself to the shape of the blank and having projecting spurs for engaging the other sur face thereof.

12. A machine for scouring blanks for heels, comprising an abrasive member, and automatic feeding mechanism associated therewith including a conveyor, a blank positioning plate adjustably mounted thereon, and a controling device arranged to act upon said positioning plate in a predetermined portion of its travel to determine the angular position thereof and thereby the angular position of presentation of the blank to said abrasive member.

13. A machine for scouring blanks for heels, comprising an abrasive member, automatic feeding mechanism associated therewith including a conveyor equipped with a series of angularly adjustable plates for positioning a series of blanks, a controlling device, each of said plates having a member engageable with said controlling device to control the angular position of the plate, and means for adjusting said controlling device to vary the angular position of said plates and thereby the angle of presentation of the blanks to said abrasive member.

14'. A machine for scouring blanks for heels, comprising an abrasive member, a blank positioning surface leading thereto, automatic feeding mechanism including blank clamping members acting to advance a blank across said surface while leaving the blank free to position itself thereon, means for angularly positioning said clamping members as they arrive at said surface, and means for closing the clamping means thereafter.

15. A machine for scouring blanks for heels, comprising an abrasive member, and feeding mechanism associated therewith including a driven endless chain, blank carriers mounted on certain links of said chain and having a pivotal connection therewith, a guideway for positively controlling the path of the chain as it approaches the abrasive member, and an adjustable guideway for controlling the angular position of each carrier as it is advanced by the movement of the chain.

16. A machine for securing blanks for heels, comprising an abrasive member having a convex effective face, means for feeding a blank in a straight line path transversely across said coneffective face, a blank guiding face of similar vex face, a clamping plate mounted on said feeding means and extending in a plane which is intersected by the line along which the feeding means advances, and means for holding the blank against said clamping plate, thereby enabling the abrasive member to form a portion of the blank to a concave outline which is complemental to the convex face of the abrasive member.

1'7. A machine for scouring blanks for heels,

' comprising an abrasive element, a member having a convex blank supporting face leading thereto, and feeding means constructed and arranged to maintain a series of heel blanks with their .concave breast edges resting upon said convex face and to move said blanks successively toward the abrasive element while permitting them to locate themselves freely upon said convex face.

18. A machine for scouring blanks for heels,

comprising an abrasive member having a convex contour leading to said member and arranged to support and position a blank, said faces being shaped to provide a depression at their adjacent points, and means for clamping a blank in position as determined by said guiding face and feedcomprising means for feeding blanksin a substantially straight line path, a driven abrasive belt extending across the path of feed of the blanks, and means for positioning the edge of the belt which is first traversed by the blanks below the path of a blank and for positioning the face of the belt so as to engage the blank only after the blank has been fed beyond the edge of the belt.

21. A machine for securing blanks for heels,

comprising anabrasive belt, means for advancing blanks along .a predetermined path in a direction Widthwise of said belt, and means for so relatively positioning the belt with respect to the path of the blanks that one intersects the other at an acute angle.

.22. A machine for scouring blanks for heels, comprising an abrasive belt, means for advancing blanks along a predetermined path across said belt, and means for positioning the belt with the edge which first traversed by the blanks at one side of the path of the blanks and its surface extending on the other side of said patha distance corresponding to the amount to be secured from the blanks.

23. A machine for scouring blanks for heels, comprising an endless abrasive belt having a portion thereof guided in a convex path, an endless chain driven continuously in a horizontal path adjacent to said guided portion of the belt, a supporting member coextensive with a portion of said chain and arranged to maintain a supply of blanks on edge, a series of plates projecting from the chain, spacing the blanks and acting to slide them along the surface of the supporting member, and a clamp cooperating with each plate and acting automatically to clamp a blank thereto at a predetermined point in the travel of the chain, whereby the blanks are carried successively across the convexly guided portion of the belt and acquire a concave scoured surface.

24. A machine for scouring blanks for heels, comprising an abrasive belt driven in a predetermined curved path, a member having a blankguiding surface shaped to correspond to the curvature of said path and leading tosaid belt, and feeding means constructed and arranged to advance blanks along said surface while leaving the blanks free to adjust themselves thereon during a part of their advancing movement.

25. A machine for scouring blanks for heels, comprising an abrasive belt guided for movement in a predetermined curved path, a member having a blank-guiding surface shaped to correspond to the curvature of said path and leading to said belt, and feeding mechanism including means for advancing a blank along said surface While supported thereby and means for thereafter clamping the blank in its position determined by said surface.

26. An abrading machine comprising an abrading member having a working surface composed of a system of substantially straight and parallel elements and a system of curved substantially parallel elements, a gauge having a working surface similar in form to that of said abrading member and positioned at one side of said abrading member with the straight elements of the gauge substantially in line with the straight elements of the abrading tool whereby a work piece having a surface approximately complemental to the working surface of the abrading tool may be positioned for presentation to said abrading tool, means for driving said abrading tool in the direction of the curved elements thereof, and means constructed and arranged to maintain a work piece in the position determined by said gauge and to feed the work piece across said abrading tool in the direction of the straight elements of the gauge.

27. A machine for scouring shoe parts, comprising a driven abrading tool, a gauge having a work guiding surface, feeding means constructed and arranged to advance work pieces along said guiding surface while leaving them free to adjust themselves thereon during a part of their advancing movement, and means operable during the advance of the work pieces along said guiding surface to secure the work pieces, in the position determined by said guiding surface, to said feeding means, thereby enabling said feeding means to present the work pieces in gauged position to said abrading tool. v

28. A machine for abrading shoe parts, comprising a driven abrading tool, and means for advancing a plurality of work pieces, in succession along a predetermined path which is transverse to the direction in which the too-1 is driven and which intersects the working surface of the tool at an acute angle.

' 29. An abrading machine comprising a driven tool having an abrading surface, said abrading surface having a pair of lateral edges which are parallel to the direction of travel of said abrad- I RALPH C. SIMMONS. 

